(Story courtesy Augusta GreenJackets; file photo by Mike Adams/Augusta Good News)
NORTH AUGUSTA – The Augusta GreenJackets took a second consecutive one-run loss to the Myrtle Beach Pelicans falling 5-4 on Friday at SRP Park. Myrtle Beach (7-6, 46-32) scored all five runs on homers, while Augusta (6-7, 37-41) got more hits from Justin Janas but could not punch home the tying run.
Owen Murphy got the nod for Augusta on the wake of two consecutive winning efforts, and immediately showed his prowess. Murphy didn’t allow a hit in his first four innings of action, and concluded his outing with eight strikeouts. Augusta broke onto the scoreboard in the bottom of the second, with Jair Casanova launching his sixth homer of the season into the Coors Light Chill Zone in right field.
Augusta’s 1-0 lead would stand until the top of the fifth. Andy Garriola became the first Pelican to hit safely when he reached on an infield single. Back to back walks loaded the bases, before Pedro Ramirez hit a grand slam on a 3-2 pitch to put the visitors on top, 4-1. Murphy responded by striking out the next three batters of the inning to conclude his outing with five full innings of work.
Augusta got two runs back in the bottom of the frame, as Janas drove in Dawson Dimon with a double before Tyler Collins scored on a wild pitch to bring the deficit to 4-3. Estarlin Rodriguez entered in the sixth in relief of Murphy and gave up a solo homer to Parker Chavers as the Pelicans brought their advantage back to two runs.
Landon Harper became the third GreenJackets pitcher, as he entered and worked a scoreless seventh. Janas cranked his second base hit of the game in the bottom of the frame, with Ambioris Tavarez scoring from first on an error in the outfield to make it 5-4. Rehabbing reliever Scott Kobos entered in the eighth and recorded the save, silencing Augusta and sending the ‘Jackets to their third straight defeat. Janas’ two-hit game is his 23rd multi-hit game of the season, most in the league, and his 79 hits on the season are now the most amongst all players in the Carolina League.
The GreenJackets are home for two more games this weekend before the All-Star Break! Join the ‘Jackets for Countdown to Christmas night Saturday with a fireworks show! To purchase tickets and learn more about this week’s homestand, visit https://www.milb.com/augusta/fans/gj-homestand-preview.
Augusta Good News is a local, digital newspaper. Subscribe to the newsletter here.
